Latch



' May 25, 1954 Filed Sept. 6, 1949 L. L- ANDERSON El AL LATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FM I.

\uvem'oas LLOYD L. Aunensow ROBERT Eiguusou 5 MW 476% am May 25, 1954 L ANDERSON ETAL 2,679,423

LATCH Filed Sept. 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 luvsu'roas LLOYD LAnneszs-on ROBERT E. JOHNSON Q Ma,

A'r-ronuevs y 25, 1954 L. ANDERSON EI'AL ,679,423

LATCH Filed Sept. 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \uvevrrons mm QosenE. Jouuson Awoaugvs Patented May 25, 1954 LATCH Lloyd L. Anderson and Robert E. Johnson, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignors to Jervis Corporation, Grandville, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 6, 1949, Serial No. 114,105

Claims.

This invention relates to a novel, useful and very practical latch which in use is primarily for releasably securing refrigerator doors in closed position. The latch is concealed, that is, it is installed between the inner and outer sides of the door adjacent its free vertical edge, the only part .appearing outside the door being the handle, by

means of which it is released from a keeper mounted on the refrigerator casing.

The present invention, in its general principle of operation, is similar to that shown in a pending application in the Patent Office, Serial No. 58,953, filed November 8, 1948, and owned by the same assignee. It, however, is an improved, simpler and more economical latch and less expensive to make, consisting of few parts which are easily fabricated and assembled, in which the spring force which is used to hold the door closed secures a tight sealing condition between the door and the refrigerator casing, insuring a minimum loss of refrigeration from within the refrigerator or introduction of heat therewithin which would occur if there was defective sealing. The latch also may be released Whenever the door is to be opened without the necessity of using a heavy force by the one who operates the latch to release it.

An understanding of the invention having the desirable features and characteristics stated may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in a which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the free edge portion of a refrigerator door and the adjacent casing showing the novel latch mechanism concealed in the door in its op erative tripped position engaging with a keeper for the latch bolt mounted on the casing.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the latch outside the door looking at it from the right in Fig. 1.

Fig. .3 is a section similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the latch mechanism in a cooked position, that is as it appears after it had been released from the keeper and remains in such released position, and with the latch about to be moved to closed position.

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Figs. 1 and 3, showing the operation of the latch mechanism and the position of the parts thereof in the case where the latch fails to remain cockedwith the door open and has to be re-engaged with the keeper by a camming action thereagainst.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diiferent figures of the drawings.

At the front of the side of the door casing where the free edge of a hinged door is to be releasably secured, said casing being indicated at I, a keeper is mounted. It includes an interiorly threaded sleeve 2 into which a threaded stem 3 of the keeper is screwed. At the outer end of the stem, in front of the adjacent casing, a generally triangular laterally extending bolt engaging head l is integrally formed which, at an outer corner, is cut away to provide an inclined surface. A relatively long screw 5 extends axially through the stem 3 and has a screw connection at its inner end for tightening and locking the keeper against change of position. The detail of the keeper is not further entered into as it is not a part of the present invention.

The latch mechanism of our invention is housed within the door 6 between its inner and outer sides adjacent its free vertical edge, it being understood that the door has a hinged connection to turn about a vertical axis adjacent its opposite vertical edge. The latch includes a supporting body of sheet metal having two spaced parallel sides I connected at one edge by an integral section 8 extending between them. At one end each of the sides i is outwardly flanged and riveted or spot welded to a plate 9 which is located against the inner side of the outer covering member or face of the door 6, at the outer side of which a' handle I i, pivotally mounted at one end on a pivot 12, is carried by the plate It]. The two plates 9 and it are securely connected together by screws as shown in Fig. 1. The handle is normally actuated by a spring l3 around the pivot rod l2, so that the handle when free to do so occupies an inner position generally paralleling the outer face of the door. The two plates 9 and Ill have openings i l and 15 through them in alignment, and

also in conjunction with an opening through the outer face of the door, through which a relatively long fiat bar link I! passes. A longitudinal slot Ila (closed at both ends) is formed in the outer end of said link ii. A vertically extending pin 16 which is carried by the handle a short distance from the pivot rod 1 2 passes through said slot Ha to eventuate the indicated connection between the handle and said member 11. A bracket or clip I8 is screw-connected to section 8 of the latch support at the inner end thereof and is held in place on the door by suitable screw connections as shown. The latter connections also secure a sheet member I $having an opening therethrough-at the inner face of the free vertical edge portion of the door. The projecting keeper end 4 passes through the opening in member l9 to engage with the latch bolt carried on the fixed supporting structure housed within the door.

the latch mechanism parts are located as shown in Fig. 3, the trip portion 22 being at such time-- caused to abut against the end 4 of the keeper, and continued movement actuates the bolt "as here-- after described.

Arms integral with the sides "of"the bolt extend inwardly between the partsmZl andw22, between and on which a transverse roller 23 is rotatably mounted on a pin which passes through the roller. Between the .sides 20 of the bolt outwardly a .short distan-ce from the connecting section :21 a bar or. pin-24 extends, which is.:secured atzits-endsto said bolt sides 20 having opposite parallel flat'sidesand opposite curved or 'arcuate edges-as shown.

A pin'25 extends between the sides 1 of the support for the-.latch mech'anism and isfixedly secured in-placeinwardly of the bolt. A link-also of sheet metal having. two parallel sides 26 connected by an integralcross piece 21 is mounted adjacent one :end andnear: the part 8 on a pin or rivet 281 between the. sides 'l'of the support. The-link-extends to .thewinner end of the link bar ll, through which a pin 29 passes. On the pin 29 rollers Stare mountedzfor rotation, one at each side of the'innerxen'dsof'the sides-26 (Fig. 3).

The link bar-1| I, towarditsinnerend is widened, providing shoulders against which the inner end of a=strong coiledcompression spring 3| bears. The-:other-end ofthe spring iswagainst a support 32 therefor extending between and connecting with the sides! of the main support. Such spring under. compression tends to turn the link 26 counterclockwise: The rollers 30 at their peripheral edges are (when the latch is .in looking, i. e., door-closingposition) against the rounded edge of xthepin or bar 24.

A torsion spring .33 l is around the pin 25, one of tl're'two. end" arms of such. spring engaging against the'inner'side of plateZ'l and the'other abutting against a tongue 34 struck from one of theisides2fi of thelatch bolt; It-will be observed (Fig. 4) that=the sides.20:of the'latch bolt are recessed :so that-inthe upper position of the bolt as in Figs. 1 and-3 pin-cis .in' such recess to:the bottom. thereof, and provides. a pivot support about which the bolt may rock. The effect of the torsion spring 33 'on the bolt 28 mm turn it clockwise; when'free'to do so: Also in the lower edges anther-sides. 20 of: the latchsbolt an'arcuate slot 28a: is cut'forireceiving 'and guidingthe latch boltitinitsimovements, the. end of this rslot acting as a stop in the trippedpositionas in Fig. l; The latch .boltihas substantially a floating movement between itstwoiextreme positions of movement.

Whenthew-bolti is in .its tripped position engaging with the keeper, asxin Fig. 1', the heavy spring 3i exerts and transmits its force through rollers ea' against' the rounded edge ofi'the'r-pin or bar-24,-

turning I the latch bolt counterclockwise to bring" the roller 23" closed and compress the usual gasket which: is

between the door and thedecreasing:v Onpulling against the inner sidev of 'the'keeper' head 4, tlie'b'olt' turning'about the axis. ofzthe 4 outwardly on the handle I I, link bar I! is moved in the direction of its length, the link 26 is swung clockwise and the rollers 30 ride against the adjacent curved edge of the pin 24 and thence under it substantially as in Fig. 3, so that the outer flat side of the pin 24 comes against the inner edges or points of the rollers 30. The force of the spring ,31 thereupon is transmitted to thezpin 24 substantially through the center or axis ofthe pin 29, that is on dead center. The spring 33 thereupon is freed to exert its force to swing the latch bolt in a clockwise direction and disengage the roller 23 from its keeper. Because of said dead center position :oi'the'line of force of the spring 3|, the

bolt remainsnormally in its cocked position. On

releasing the handle I I it will return to inner position, pin liiitraversing the slot in the link bar 11, under the influence of the torsion spring [3.

Withthe latch in cocked position, on closing the door the plate 22 of the bolt, with the bolt substantiailyvas in Fig; 3, strikesagainst the .end oftthekeeper 4, turning theabolt .20 aboutrits pivot 25-andxreleasing .it, .the turning movementabelng inaa counterclockwise direction, whereuponthe .pin orabar24-isswung :to the right-from the posie tion inFig. 3 to that-in Fig. 1, the rollers 3fl'under pressure ofspring 3| following .the' pin 24" and pressing thereagainst; The roller 23' is thereupon swung counterclo ckwise: against the .inner; side of the keeperhead 4, with the spring 3'! continuously exerting its force to causetheroller23 to'continuously press against 1 the inner side of the keeper head.

.As-rhappens at times whenithexioor isziopened, the latch through accident, inadvertence .or otherwise, may notzremainin its cocked; position .but will swing substantially to :the position shown: in Fig. .l'though'away'fromand not engaged with the keeper; Underrsuch conditions when the door is closed the roller 23::ri'desnpon theinclined outer corner portion of :the keeperrh'ead' 4; the .latchb'olt being carnmedto the: position substantially as shown in Fig- 4 until the roller. 23 passes by the nose of the keepervhead.

The structure described is relatively simplennd inexpensive. quantity production. With a spring force in the spring 31. substantially betweenza minimum of 24 pounds and a maximum 0 5-40 pounds, the maximum being obtained whenthe spring :ismost greatly compressed, the force required to trip the latchis approximately betweenfour and .seven pounds and substantially the same .force "exerted as a pull on the lever H releases the latch and moves it to its released cocked position.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

We claim:

1'. In a latch structure, a support having; spaced connected i sides, adapted to. be secured "to and housed within a door adjacent a free edge there'- of, a link bar. located between thev sides of the support extending outwardly beyond the outer end thereof adapted to have manually operable means connected therewith for" moving the bar outwardly, a springnormally'moving the link bar inwardly, a pin extending through the link bar atits inner end, a link through one-end of which the pin extends 'pivotally mounted on .the support adjacent its= other end, a latch bolt'hav ing spaced connected sideslocatedJoneat; each side of said l'm'k' .andxhaving'r arms. extending therefrom; with aikeeper; engaging J member at the outer GlidSnOfJSfiidi arms. a secondpimex It is-economical to produce in large tending between the sides of the bolt, a third pin between the sides of the support spaced from and located inwardly from the first pin, and a spring carried on said third pin engaging at one end with said latch bolt and at the other end with the pivot pin upon which said l nk is mounted, said spring being of lesser strength the first mentioned spring and normally acting to turn the latch bolt in the opposite direction from the movement of the latch bolt under the force of the first mentioned spring.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said second pin has an arcuate shape peripheral portion against which the inner end of said link bears when the latch bolt assumes a keeper engaging position, and a flat peripheral portion against which the inner end of said link bar bears when the latch bolt assumes a keeper disengaging position.

3. A latch structure for use with a keeper and a door, comprising a support having spaced parallel sides connected along one edge and being disposed within the door and adjacent to the vertical edge of the latter, a manually adjustable link bar located between the sides of the support and extending outwardly therefrom beyond one end of the support and terminating at its outer end beyond the front of said door, a link pivotally connected to the inner end of the link bar and pivotally mounted on the support intermediate the sides thereof, a latch bolt having spaced interconnected parallel sides provided with a plurality of open end slots, a roller mounted on and intermediate the sides of the latch bolt and movable into and out of keeper-interlocking relation, a transverse pin interconnecting the sides of said latch bolt and having a fiat peripheral portion and a curved peripheral portion, the curved peripheral portion of said pin bearing against the inner end of said link bar when said roller is in keeper-interlocking relation and the substantially fiat peripheral portion of the pin bearing against the inner end of the link bar when the latch bolt assumes a position out of keeper-interlocking relation, a stud inwardly spaced from said pin and extending between and connected to the sides of said support and being disposed in one of said open end slots formed in said latch bolt, a torsion spring embracing said stud and biasing said latch bolt out of keeper-interlocking 2 relation, and spring means of greater strength than said torsion spring cooperating with said link bar to effect biasing of said latch bolt into keeper-interlocking relation.

4. A latch mechanism for holding the free edge of a pivotally mounted door in closed position with respect to a cabinet by engaging a keeper mounted on such cabinet, comprising a housing for mounting on such door, a latch bolt pivotable with respect to said housing between a keeper engaging position and a cooked position, an elongated actuator member extending substantially in the direction of movement of said free edge of said door and movable with respect to said base in substantially the same direction, a guide member pivotally mounted at one end on said housing and pivotally connected at its other end to the end of said actuator member extending inwardly toward such cabinet, the other end of said actuator member being engageable by an operating handle, said guide member being so oriented that said guide member and said actuator member form a substantially right angle construction, a pair of cooperating cam elements, one of said elements being mounted on said latch bolt and being arranged to move in an arcuate path as said latch bolt pivots between keeper engaging position and cooked position, the other of said cam elements being mounted on said right angle construction and being so arranged as to be movable toward and away from such cabinet with said actuator member, said other cam element lying in the path of said one cam element when said latch bolt is in keeper engaging position, said one cam element lying in the path of said other cam element when said latch bolt is in cocked position.

5. A latch mecehanism for holding the free edge of a pivotally mounted door in closed position with respect to a cabinet by engaging a keeper mounted on such cabinet, comprising a housing for mounting on such door, a latch bolt pivotable with respect to said housing between a keeper engaging position and a cocked position, an elongated actuator member extending substantially in the direction of movement of said free edge of said door and movable with respect to said base in substantially the same direction, a guide member pivotally mounted at one end on said housing and pivotally connected at its other end to the end of said actuator member extending inwardly toward such cabinet, the other end of said actuator member being engageable by an operating handle, said guide member being so oriented that said guide member and said actuator member form a substantially right angle construction, a pair of cooperating cam elements, one of said elements being mounted on said latch bolt-and being arranged to move in an arcuate path as said latch bolt pivots between keeper engaging position and cocked position, said one cam element having a fiat surface and a convex surface, the other of said cam elements being a cam roller mounted on said right angle construction and being so arranged as to be movable toward and away from such cabinet with said actuator member, said cam roller lying in the path of said one cam element and engaging said convex surface thereof when said latch bolt is in keeper enegaging position, said one cam element lying in the path of said cam roller and said fiat surface engaging said cam roller when said latch bolt is in cocked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,980,295 Schnell Nov. 13, 1934 2,385,961 Anderson Oct. 2, 1945 2,445,709 Curtiss July 20, 1948 2,451,381 Curtiss Oct. 12, 1948 2,470,735 Young May 17, 1949 

